3 July 2008 Edition

Concern at serious sectarian attack

A serious sectarian attack on a young man walking home from the Docks area in North Belfast on Monday night is heightening tension in the area. The attack follows an incident at the weekend where two teenagers were attacked by a gang from the Tiger’s Bay area as they left a fast food outlet in North Belfast. Sinn Féin North Belfast MLA Carál Ní Chuilín has said that there are serious concerns about the increase in sectarian attacks in the area.“This young man is lucky to be alive after this vicious sectarian attack. This follows another attack at the weekend where two teenagers were attacked by a gang from the Tiger’s bay area. These sectarian attacks undermine community relations particularly in the middle of the Loyalist marching season when local people already feel under severe strain because of the high volume of Loyalist demonstrations acrossNorth Belfast”, she said.The Sinn Féin Councillor appealed directly to “political unionism” to “condemn these sectarian attacks and provide leadership on the ground. I also want to call for calm in the face of these attacks.”